Lessons Learnt from Major Housing Reconstruction Programs

1. Lessons Learnt from Major Housing Reconstruction Programs Abhas K. Jha, Regional Disaster Risk Management Coordinator, East Asia and the Pacific, The World Bank. Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

2. Two Main Objectives Today • Discuss lessons learnt from recent major housing reconstruction programs: • Ten plus One Meta Lesson • Make you aware of the Housing and Community Reconstruction Handbook project and solicit feedback. World Bank BBL Washington DC, May 27, 2009

3. Why the Need? Housing typically accounts for a large part (30 percent or more) of damage and losses after disasters. World Bank BBL Washington DC, May 27, 2009

4. Lesson # 1: Do a good damage assessment ….ONCE! • Simple , transparent criteria • Effective training a key to success • Community-led assessments a good complement to traditional methods • Swift and transparent grievance redressal Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

5. Lesson # 2: Put your reconstruction policy into place very early • Damage assessment feeds into policy • How much can you afford? • Key Questions: • What is a house? • Who gets a house? • What about non-damaged housing? • Technical guidelines • Environmental and social regulations • Broad, participatory and consultative process a must • Essential for managing expectations and resisting political pressures • Decisions in the relief and recovery phase set the context for reconstruction. Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

6. Washington DC, May 27, 2009

7. Lesson # 3: It’s about rebuilding communities • Not just physical spaces • Rebuild and restore • Livelihoods • Environment • Social fabric • Institutions and Community Capacity • Focus on the vulnerable Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

8. Lesson # 4 : Put Owners and the Community in Charge • Owner-driven reconstruction is the most empowering and dignified approach • Training and TA • Updating codes • Mechanisms to regulate prices • Financial assistance in installments Does Not Work For Urban Condominiums! Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

9. Lesson # 5: Institutions Matter • Authority • Autonomy • Political Support • Mandate, Policy and Plan • Effective Relationships • Military • Local authorities • NGOs • Donors Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

10. Lesson # 6: Use monitoring and assessments to improve outcomes • Technical Audits • Financial Audits • Social Audits • Use community and civil society for monitoring and trouble-shooting Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

11. Lesson # 7: Avoid Resettlement • Resettlement is usually unsuccessful • Livelihoods • Socially and culturally inappropriate • Sometimes unavoidable • Environmentally vulnerable • Successful resettlement • Takes into account livelihoods • Partners with the community • Fully serviced plots • Socially and culturally appropriate Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

12. Lesson # 8: Use Reconstruction to Mainstream DRM • Environmental and social sustainability • Cultural heritage preservation • Land tenure • Land-use planning • Anti-corruption Build back better! Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

13. Lesson # 9: Training Makes a Vital Difference • Detailed damage assessment • Data collection and information management • Technical advisors and supervisors • Owners and builders in the field Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

14. Lesson # 10: Partner with Civil Society and the Private Sector • Constituency, capacity, outreach and skills • Align with government objectives • Formalize • Establish oversight mechanisms • Manage expectations Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

15. Lesson 0: It all depends! • Nature and magnitude of the disaster • Country context • Urban vs. rural • Special vs. regular procurement Regimes • Speed vs. quality • On vs. off-Budget Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

16. What is the Handbook? 1. A toolkit being prepared by the World Bank for use in large-scale, public housing reconstruction programs. 2. Printed version, downloadable handbook and parallel website Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

17. Website (Operational June 2009) • www.housingreconstruction.org • Wiki-type platform-Community of practitioners • Operational content-ToRs, Roster of experts Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

18. Why the Need? • Systematize knowledge and experience(Bank and non-Bank), consolidate the range of issues reconstruction entails • Primary audience is World Bank staff and their counterparts in the public sector managing large-scale public housing reconstruction programs. • Guide on how to get the job done-by providing a detailed, concise set of guidance, caveats and cautions for the entire housing reconstruction process. Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

19. Partners Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

20. The Process Timeline • Field Review-April 10-June 30: • Internal Bank review-QC Group plus Housing and Disaster Practice Groups. • Parallel external review-Bilateral partners, NGOs, GFDRR Results Council. • Presentation of Draft Handbook and website at Global Disaster Platform Meetings- June 17. • Final launch- Fall 2009 Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009

21. Please send us your feedback http://www.tcgillc.com/pdhh.html ajha(at)worldbank.org Global Disaster Platform Meetings Geneva, June 17, 2009